Rubber-dam holder.



Patented Sept. l0, [90L L. A. YOUNG.

RUBBER DAM HOLDER.

{Application filed Nov. 14. 1900.)

(No Model.)

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PATENT FFICET LUTHER A. YOUNG, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

RUBBER-DAM HOLDER.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 682,308, dated September 10, 1901 Application filed November 14, 1900. Serial No. 36,447. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER A. YOUNG, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Rubber-Dam Holders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in rubber-dam holders designed for use by dentists, and has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, aseptic, and effectual device of that character. I attain the objects to which I have above referred by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rubber dam in position on my improved holder, illustrating the manner in which it is employed when a tooth is to be operated upon. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the holder. Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof; and Fig. 4 is a detail view of a portion of myimproved holder, illustrating one of the devices employed for attaching a twine or like material thereto for securing the device in position on the patient.

In the d rawin gs, wherein like characters designate like parts throughout the several views, A represents the body portion of my improved rubber-dam holder, the same being formed U-shaped and made, preferably, of heavy wire or a rod of metal.

(1 represents a plurality of attaching points orprojections arranged or formed on the body portion A, said projections preferably extending outwardly and laterally with respect thereto.

B represents two pinch-buttons arranged one on each of the parallel members of the U -shaped body portion of the device, the same being preferably located about midway the length of said members and are employed in connection with a piece of string or tape to hold the device in position upon the patient being operated upon.

It will be observed from an inspection of the drawings that I have arranged five of the attaching-points a on the body portion of the device, one being located near each free end of the approximately parallel members, one being arranged about at the juncture of each of the approximately parallel members and the transverse connecting member or loop portion, and one arranged centrally of said connecting member. This transverse connecting member or loop portion is preferably curved outwardly at approximately right angles to the approximately parallel members or is so bulged that when the rubber is stretched over and secured to the device the same will more nearly fitthe contour of the patients face and be more out of the operators way than would be the case if said connecting member were straight.

When it is desired to use my improved rubber-dam holder, the rubber is first fastened on the tooth or teeth, then stretched over or under the body portionand caused to engage and become held by the projections a, A piece of twine, tape, or like material is then wrapped one or more times around the pinchbutton B on one of the parallel members, passed around the patients head, pulled until a proper tension is attained, and then wrapped one or more times around the pinchbutton B on the other parallel member. This mode of attaching the device to the head of a patient is very elfect-ive, simple, easily applied and removed, and permits of a new piece of twine or tape being employed at each operation. It is obvious, of course, that a thin rubber band can be equally as well employed in securing the device in position, and by the use of the same a desirable degree of tension can be produced to hold the device properly in place.

WVhen it is desired to make use of .a triangular-shaped piece of rubber, the same can be secured to the holder in the manner illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, wherein it will be seen that I make use of only the two upper points a and the point a which is centrally located on the connecting member of the U-shaped body, it being understood, however, that any other three points a can be employed when desired.

In most operations upon the tooth of a patient it is unnecessary to employ the string for. fastening the holder in position, the same being held in place by the rubber dam when the latter is punctured and stretched over a tooth in the customary manner.

I am aware that minor changes in the arrangement, construction, and combination of the several parts of my device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A rubber-dam holder formed of a jointless U -shaped body portion, having engaging points for the rubber, and pinch-buttons carried by said U-shaped body for engaging a twine, cord, or like material; substantially as described. 1

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, 20 this 12th day of November, 1900.

LUTHER A. YOUNG.

\Vitnesses:

WM. H. SCOTT, A. S. GRAY. 

